“Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”
John 20:29 [NKJV]
God is a Spirit, and with our naked eyes we cannot see spirits. Many want to see before they believe. A vast number of persons want to behold physical signs before they become spiritually inclined.
God is pleased with us when we live by faith. Invariably, He is displeased when we limit our operations based on our 5 senses only. How long will you and I rely on physical signs? How long will you and I seek for physical proofs before we believe that there is more to life than what meets the eye?
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:17-18 [NKJV]
God is telling us that signs will follow them who believe. Signs follow believers. Believers do not follow signs. At least, Believers ought not to. Do not chase after signs. Chase after God. Chase after building your faith with and in God’s Word. The reason why a lot of people have strayed from God’s way and pierced their hearts with many sorrows is because they sought other things, rather than God. If there’s anything I know about God, it is that if you seek God with the whole of your heart, you will find Him, most assuredly. The key word is- the whole of your heart. Some people want God but more than God, they want signs. They want money, a spouse, the well paid job, the car, the fame, the attention, the glitz life etc. The secret to having signs follow you is to focus on God’s unfailing word.
“So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”
John 20:4-9 [NKJV]
John was the other disciple who went to the tomb alongside Peter. After Mary Magdalene mentioned the unbelievable to them, they ran as fast as their legs could carry them. John was probably more athletic (or maybe it’s just me being too analytic). John got to the tomb first, but hesitated to enter it (I won’t analyse why). It was only after Peter and John entered the tomb, that they believed Jesus had risen. The Bible records the reason why. They did not know the scripture…! These men had been with Jesus throughout his ministry (3 years plus). He had spent time teaching them. How could they forget? Before you judge them or judge me for seemingly judging them, let’s ask ourselves, “If I was one of the disciples who heard the news about Jesus, what would I have done?” Some of us would have been too jittery to even get out of our homes. Talkless of running to the tomb. (The persecution was REAL back then) Okay. So what point am I trying to make with the above description of scriptures? The reason why the disciples did not believe until they saw Jesus’ grave clothes is because they did not know the scripture concerning His resurrection.
Beyond just knowing the facts, the disciples did not have the revelation of scriptures. The eyes of their understanding were not enlightened about the promise of resurrection. I mean- they had spent 3 years plus with The Resurrection Himself. It appears that after Jesus’s death, their hearts were hurt. They focused on His death more than they did on His promise. Remember the reason why Mary Magdalene went to the tomb in the first place? She did not go to confirm the promise. She and the other 2 female disciples (Mary and Salome) went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ corpse. They expected Him to still be refined to the grave. (But thank God! we now dance on an empty grave🎶🎵💃)
Friend, Jesus desires that we focus on His Word, not our situations. He desires that we seek His face, not signs. Jesus wants more from you and I today, as He does always. He doesn’t want us to chase signs. He desires that we chase after the written and revealed word of God. In building our knowledge of God’s Word, we build our faith, “as faith comes by hearing the word and God”, and as we know “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6)
Jesus is pleased when men have faith in His word. Stop chasing after physical signs to cure you of the doubt you have. Seek to increase your knowledge base in God’s word. Rest on the Word of God. Build your faith with it, and the signs that many seek will come following you. (Matthew 6:33)
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 [NKJV]
Before I get to the end this post, I consider it necessary to bring one thing to mind. The life of a Christian is hinged on his faith, not on the situations surrounding him. “The just shall live by his faith”, God’s Word said. For you and I, as Children of God, to truly live and not merely exist, we need to continually take the responsibility to build our faith.
Keeping living. Keep believing. Keep seeking God and building your faith with His Word. For this faith walk you have chosen, you will never be ashamed in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
With love and passion,
Ashley
